Device for exhibiting works or art.



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APPLIOATIQN FILED mm a, 1902.

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a s a o MW m m n Ma A w WW p 'n umwmmmwmwm PATENTB'D MAR.'3, 1903. w.W001). DEVICE FOR EXHIBITINGWORKS OF ART.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1902.

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'INVENTOR 22am? 7750i fllllllllll WITNESSES:

A TTORN UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR E XHlBlTlNG WORKS OF ART.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 721,767, dated March 3,1903. Application filed June 3,1902- S erialNo.110,0'79. (No model.)

a plurality of scenes in such a relation as to,

be readily compared by spectators.

My more particular object is to produce a device in-which a centralmovable member. is provided with a plurality of scenes to be witnessedone at a time and closely following each other in a predetermined order.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a section upon the line m w of Fig. 2 and is substantially aplan view-of my device inclosed within a building for the purpose. Fig.2 is a central vertical section, partly in elevation, through Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a modification of my device for exhibiting spectacularfigures, and Fig. 4 is a section of the same upon the line 1 y of Fig.3.

The building 1, preferably provided with a dome 2, has a main floor 3,provided with seats 1 for the spectators. It has also an upper gallery5, provided with seats 6 for the spectators, the general arrangementbeing substantially the same as 'in theaters. A disk-shaped turn-table 7is provided centrally with a shaft 8, which rests in the bearing orking-post 9. Acircle of the posts 10 11, each provided with a wheel 1213, serves to support the turn-table nearits edges, so as to allowfreedom of movement.

An electric motor 14 is provided with a friction-disk 15 forthe purposeof actuating the turn-table. A pair of large friction-disks 16 17 areconnected together and are movable by means of a clutch-collar 18, whichis mounted upon the end of the forked lever 19. This lever is actuatedby hand. When the operative grasps the handle of the lever 19 and dle ofthe lever 19 be raised and the disks 16 17 are lowered the friction-disk15 of the motor makes contact with the horizontal disk .17, therebycausing the same to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The spline18 renders the motion comparatively uniform.

It will be noted, therefore, by merely operating the lever 19 theturn-table 7 may be rotated in either direction or may be rocked backand forth'to any desired degree. Upon the turn-table are mounted thescreens or walls 20 20, whereby the space over the turntable is dividedon" into a plurality of sectorshapedst'ages 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28, thenumber of these stages being immaterial. Various scenes'of art, history,&c., may be represented in divers ways upon these stages. For instance,coniparative styles of architecture may be thus exhibited to advantage.In the drawings the several stages represent Indian, Egyptian, Grecian,Etruscan, Roman, Basilican,Byzantine, and Gothic styles of architecture.I do not limit myself, however, to these styles of architecture ormerely to exhibits of architecture generally. My device may be used forexhibiting any comparative scenes and may of course be made in a greatvariety of ways. I merely'give the above example as typical. Neither doI confine myself to the particular form of stages shown in the drawings,because obviously stages may be made of any form without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. v

In the modifications shown in Figs. 3 and 4 a revoluble floor ct-isprovided with columns b, and upon the columns rest the dome 0. Betweeneach consecutive pair of columns is a disk d, surmounted by a pedestale, and upon each pedestal is a spectacular figure f g, representing adeity. Each of the disks d is revolubly mounted upon a pivot h in therevoluble floor a. The disks t are similar to the disks d and arerevolubly j ournaled at it upon the cylinder i. Portable screens Z,fastened together telescopically by means of clamps m, are provided forthe purpose of shielding the house to any extent. The disks d and t arearranged in pairs, and each pair is connected by a semicylindricalshield n. The outside orconvex portion of each shield presents a surfacewhich may be colored or otherwise made to represent the exterior of abuilding. The inside or concave portion of each shield forms a veryappropriate alcove or niche and may be given a color different from thatof the exterior or convex portion.

The several columns 1), taken in connection with the convex surfaces ofseveral of the semicylindrical shields, may be made to represent theoutside of a temple or of some portion thereof. The dome 0 may beadvantageously used for increasing this effect. This dome may beprovided with ribs q and with a gilded covering 1', representing a roof,and also provided with ornaments, such as 3. Each pair of disks id beingconnected rigidly by the semicylindrical shield may be rotated together,the shield in one instance appearing to be concave, as indicated in themiddle of Fig. 3, and in another instance appearing to be convex, asindicated at the right and left of said figure. The arrangement can beseen to better advantage by comparing the relative positions of theshields in Fig. 4.

As the portable screens Z, above mentioned, may be moved into anydesired position, it is obvious that one, two, three, or four of theshields may be brought into the view of spectators located outside ofthe house a. By turning an individual shield, together with its disks,the figure f 9 (representing a deity) may be exhibited to the audienceor concealed therefrom.

In practicing my invention I frequently exhibit the exterior of a templeor of some portion thereof by arranging the shields so that the convexsurfaces will be outermost and then explain to the audience that thespectacle presented is that of a particular temple or a part thereof andthat the gods who are worshipped in the temple are concealed within thesame. I next state to the audience that in the present degenerate ageour reverence for the gods has so greatly lessened that they may now bebrought out of the temple and shown to the gaze of the public. Ithereupon cause an attendant, who may be situated inside of the house orat any convenient point, to give a semirotation to some one or morepairs of disks with their attached shields. The result is that thetemple apparently opens and one or more gods make their appearance. Theeffect is quite startling and the act is generally applauded by thespectators.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A device for exhibiting works of art, comprising arevoluble house, provided with niches and with a floor, stationary postsprovided with wheels for supporting said floor, a shaft rigidlyconnected with said floor and depending therefrom, a central stationarybearing for engaging said shaft, a pair of friction-disks connectedtogether and splined upon said shaft, a manually-operated lever forshifting said disks relatively to the general length of said shaft and amotor provided with a friction-wheel for engaging said disks.

2. A device for exhibiting works of art, comprising a revoluble housesurmounted by a dome, a plurality of spectacular figures mounted withinsaid house, and shields disposed adjacent to said objects and movablerelatively to said house.

3. A device for exhibiting works of art, comprising a revoluble house, aplurality of spectacular figures mounted therein and movable relativelythereto, and a plurality of semicylindrical shields disposed adjacent tosaid figures and movable relatively to said house for the purpose ofexhibiting said figures to spectators outside of the house.

4. A device for exhibiting works of art, comprising a revoluble house, aplurality of spectacular figures mounted therein and movable relativelythereto, a plurality of semicylindrical shields disposed adjacent tosaid figures and movable relatively to said house, means for mountingsaid shields for the purpose of exhibiting said figures to spectatorsoutside of said house, and a plurality of portable screens normallydisposed adjacent to said revoluble house. I

5. A device for exhibiting works of art, comprising a floor and ceiling,columns connecting said floor and ceiling, said columns being spacedasunder, disks arranged in pairs and revolubly mounted intermediate ofsaid columns, a semicylindrical shield connected with each of said pairsof disks, and a plurality of spectacular figures mounted intermediate ofeach pair of said disks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALLACE WOOD.

Witnesses:

WALTON HARRISON, F. W. I'IANAFORD.

